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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
In late 2014, President Obama announced he would take executive action to extend deportation relief to millions of undocumented immigrants through the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and the expansion of the highly successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Today marks the target date the administration initially set to begin implementing DAPA. However, in the wake of the president’s announcement, a number of states filed a politically motivated lawsuit to block implementation of the president’s executive actions, a lawsuit that has worked its way up to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Instead of celebrating with the millions of families who would finally gain a reprieve from the needless separations that have torn apart our communities, today we continue to navigate this drawn-out, unnecessary litigation that has left so many American families in limbo,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Deputy Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “By pursuing this lawsuit, the opponents of these programs accomplish nothing beyond damaging our economy, jeopardizing our national security and attacking Latino families.”
“As we await a decision, we remind those who seek to deny millions of families the benefits of DACA and DAPA that the president was well within his constitutional authority to implement these programs,” Martínez-De-Castro continued. “The diverse coalition of allies in our movement will continue to defend the president’s executive actions and help individuals and families prepare to apply so they are ready when the process begins.”
For information about how to apply for administrative relief, please visit www.nclr.org. For the most up-to-date information about changing immigration laws, policies and news, download Immigo, a free app designed for anyone assisting immigrants. The app, which works with iPhone and Android devices, can be downloaded from the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores.
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